Eye Allergies
What are eye allergies?
Eye allergies are a reaction allergens such as pollen, mold, dust mites and pet dander. They get in the eyes and cause inflammation of the tissue that lines the inner yelid.
The technical name for an eye allergy is allergic conjunctivitis
Allergic conjunctivitis is inflammation of the tissue lining the eyelids (conjunctiva) due to a reaction from allergy-causing substances such as pollen and dander.When your eyes are exposed to anything to which you are allergic, histamine is released and the blood vessels in the conjunctiva become swollen (the conjunctiva is the clear membrane that covers the "white" of the eye). Reddening of the eyes develops quickly and is accompanied by itching and tearing.Pediatric eye allergies
At our Vancouver eye clinic, we see patients with eye allergies every day. In fact 20% to 25% of the population have allergies and up to 40% of children have allergies. This is because children have active immune systems and various kinds of allergic reactions in children are common. If you wear contacts
If you wear contact lenses, consider switching to daily disposable lenses. They are by far the most comfortable lenses on the market. Allergy season can make contact lenses more uncomfortable and comfort declines significant in weeks three and four for a monthly lens. You can avoid most of these problems by switching to a daily lens. Although daily lenses are more expensive, you don't need to buy solutions and they are super-convenient because you don't need to clean and care for them. They are unbeatable for traveling.
Eye allergy medication
Allergy medication is an another option. Oral, all purpose allergy medication like Claritin should be used with caution, especially if your main complaint is itchy and watery eyes. These pills can dry out the eye and replace one problem with another.
There are a number of prescription eye drops designed to eliminate itchy watery eyes that your eye doctor can tell you about and prescribe if appropriate. Many of these are very effective, now come in "once-a-day" formulation, are pregnancy safe and can be used in children as young as two years old. For a child, who needs a parent to apply the drops, the once-a-day option is convenient because you can give the child one drop in the morning and he is good for the next 16 hours of summer camps, sports, hikes and everything else than makes summer fun!
The best thing you can do is get treatment early
If you suffer from eye allergies every year, the best thing you can do is get treatment early, before eye allergy season even begins. You get the best results and you may even be able to escape the discomfort, itching and burning of eye allergies completely this year.
